CHANGING THE GRAZING GAME
Research Trials
MasterHand Milling has partnered with the Oklahoma State University Cooperative Extension Service to conduct annual summer grass cattle trials since 2019. Our goal is to provide repeatable, dependable data customers can rely on to make decisions for their operation.
Associate Professor Dr. Paul Beck and his team of graduate students design trials each year to test the impacts of feed supplementation in a variety of grazing scenarios. Throughout the program, MHM has provided extruded distillers grain range cubes for each research site. In the last two years, MHM also partnered with Buffalo Feeders to purchase cattle for the trials.
The 2019 and 2020 studies proved it was possible to feed DDG cubes to cattle on grass, increase daily gains and earn significant returns on feed costs. Results from the 2021 grazing trials continued to show increased gains and began to dial in on optimum feeding rates for supplemental feed efficiency and return on investment.
In 2020 and 2021, the trial went a step further by tracking cattle through the feedlot and collecting final carcass data. That data indicates feeding DDG cubes to cattle on grass not only boosts gains on pasture, but also optimizes both feedyard and carcass performance. Supplemented trial cattle gained faster, had better feed conversion and finished faster than unfed cattle. Carcass evaluation showed the fed cattle were more likely to grade choice or higher and yield a larger carcass.
Trials are underway for the 2022 season to continue to build on these findings. Complete data from all completed trials is available by request.
Associate Professor Dr. Paul Beck and his team of graduate students design trials each year to test the impacts of feed supplementation in a variety of grazing scenarios. Throughout the program, MHM has provided extruded distillers grain range cubes for each research site. In 2021, MHM also partnered with Buffalo Feeders to purchase cattle for the trials.
The 2019 studies proved it was possible to feed cattle on grass, increase daily gains and earn significant returns on feed costs. In 2020, the trial replicated those grazing results, then went a step further by tracking the cattle through the feedlot and collecting final carcass data. That data indicates feeding cattle on grass not only boosts gains on pasture, but also optimizes both feedyard and carcass performance.
Trials are underway for the 2021 season to continue to build on these findings. Complete data from all completed trials is available by request.
